Dinda helps India 'A' win in Eliminator

Pacer Ashok Dinda struck when it mattered most, as India 'A' drew the two-match Twenty20 series against West Indies 'A' by winning the second and final game after the one-over eliminator, in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Put in to bat by the hosts, the Indians put on a competitive 154, but the Caribbeans managed to tie the match, and it was ultimately decided by the one-over Eliminator in which run-outs by Dinda proved decisive.

The West Indies 'A' scored four runs in five balls in the Eliminator, which India 'A' chased down comfortably, sscoring seven off three balls, including a couple of wides conceded by Suleiman Benn.

With this victory the visitors drew the two-match series, after losing the opening game by three wickets on Saturday.

It was a rather steady start for India, the team having struggled to get decent opening partnerships going for most part of the tour.

Shikhar Dhawan (33) and Ajinkya Rahane (79) put on 61 runs for the opening wicket before the former became Garey Mathurin's only victim of the game by holing out to Kieran Powell.

His departure led to an all too familiar batting collapse, with Rahane struggling to get a steady partner at the other end.

The Mumbai youngster's knock came off 63 deliveries and was studded with four boundaries and a couple of sixes.

India were eventually restricted to 154 for five in their 20 overs after yet another middle-order flop show.

Chasing the challenging target, the West Indians were off to a good start, as Nkrumah Bonner (82) and Kieran Powell stitched together a 72-run opening stand.

Of the two, Powell was the first to depart when he was run-out by the combined effort of Rohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar after striking a couple of fours and a six in his 27-ball cameo.

The hosts also endured a middle-order collapse, but Bonner's steady knock, which was an effective mix of caution and aggression, ensured that the side managed to tie the scores.

Bonner faced 65 balls and sent down four boundaries and two sixes in an entertaining innings.

With the scores level, it was left to a nerve-wrecking Eliminator over in which Dinda, who was the economical Indian bowler with figures of 1-23 in his four overs, worked his magic.

The Caribbeans seemed to have lost their nerve as Jonathan Carter and Bonner found themselves short of the crease -- both run-outs effected by Dinda.

Having to chase just four runs, the Indians lost Rohit Sharma off the very first ball, but helped by a couple of wides by Benn and a boundary by Dhawan, the visitors made it comfortably to tie the series.